January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month!

Cervical Cancer, Pap Test, Colposcopy, Human Papilloma Virus, Gardasil…oh my! What does it all mean?!

Let’s decipher these terms together…

Cervical cancer has been linked to a very common STD known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is spread by sexual contact. Unfortunately there is no cure; however, there is a vaccine known as Gardasil which is effective against four strains of the virus, two of which are associated with 70% of all cervical cancer and two of which are associated with 90% of all genital warts. Gardasil is approved for girls and women 9-26 years of age and is available at Planned Parenthood of Delaware.

In order to reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer it is important to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test (also known as a Pap smear) is performed during a routine pelvic exam, when the healthcare provider uses a brush or spatula to collect cells from the cervix and view them under a microscope. If abnormal cells are present, your healthcare provider may recommend a colposcopy. A colposcopy is a procedure that allows a healthcare provider to get a closer view of the cervix in order to determine further testing. Sometimes a colposcopy is done in conjunction with a biopsy, which is the taking of a tissue sample from the cervix.

In celebration of National Cervical Cancer Screening Month, don’t forget to schedule your pelvic exam and Pap test!

For further information regarding cervical health and screening, click here.